WHITEHALL — A memorial service will be Tuesday to honor the memory of an Air Force serviceman from Whitehall who was stabbed to death last week in a Scottsdale, Ariz., parking lot.

Friends say Spencer Goode, 20, wore a smile on his face whether it was walking the halls of Whitehall High School or running on the soccer field.

Goode was killed July 26 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Goode was a paralegal serving with the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, a suspect in the stabbing, Rafael Morales Jr., 27, of Glendale, turned himself in the day after the incident. The status of the investigation is now known.

The Chronicle could not reach the Scottsdale police by press time.

A police spokesman told the Arizona Daily Star for the July 31 story that the two men were strangers who somehow got into an argument in a convenience store parking lot. At that time, police said they were not sure what caused the argument that eventually led to the stabbing.

Tuesday's memorial service, which will be coordinated by the Air Force and is open to the public, is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Algot Johnson American Legion Post 69, 803 E. Colby, in Whitehall. Memories from family and friends are expected to be shared, along with a slide show of his life.

Goode, the son of Teri Sands of Whitehall and James Goode of Seattle, Wash., joined the Air Force after graduating from Whitehall High School in 2006. He played soccer, where he earned mention on The Chronicle's All-Area team as a senior, and basketball.

Bryan Mahan, a high school teacher and coach, has fond memories of Goode, who lived next door to Mahan for three years. Mahan has been asked by Goode's family to speak at the memorial service.

"He was a fun kid," Mahan said. "He had a real cool disposition, very charismatic."

Mahan, who coached Goode in soccer and taught him biology, said Goode was known to inspire his teammates and his classmates. Goode won the most inspirational award in soccer as a senior.

"He was a kid who never mailed it in during an athletic event," Mahan said. "In the classroom, he was always fun and a funny kid. He's an enjoyable person to be around."

John VanLoon, Whitehall High School principal, said he remembers Goode's "infectious smile."

"Spence's a great kid," VanLoon said. "It's such a tragedy."

Goode also has a son, Christian, who was born in 2005.

Memorial donations may be made to a Spencer Goode soccer scholarship fund at Whitehall High School.